Submersible pump assembly

ABSTRACT

A submersible electric motor-pump assembly having a drive motor and a pump connected therewith which is lowerable into a body of fluid. The assembly includes means for guiding same having at least one guide element; the guide element guiding the assembly in its descending movement and is connectable in the lowered position with the inlet of a conveying pipe. The guide element serves for the guidance of a guide sleeve connected with the pump assembly, and the guide sleeve in its movement acts upon intermediate elements which control the connection of the pump outlet with the inlet of the conveying pipe.

United States Patent Blum n51 3.,d35,d6

[451 Jan, 18, W72

[54] SUBMERSIBLE PUMP ASSEMBLY Albert Blum, Scheiderhohe (Siegkreis), Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 887,186

[72] inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 24, 1968 Germany ..P l8 16 852.0

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,018,925 1/1962 Englesson ..417/424 Englesson ..4l5/2 l 9 Blum ..415/219 Primary Examiner-Robert M. Walker Attorney-Lining & Siegel [57] ABSTRACT A submersible electric motor-pump assembly having a drive motor and a pump connected therewith which is lowerable into a body of fluid. The assembly includes means for guiding same having at least one guide element; the guide element guiding the assembly in its descending movement and is connectable in the lowered position with the inlet of a conveying pipe. The guide element serves for the guidance of a guide sleeve connected with the pump assembly, and the guide sleeve in its movement acts upon intermediate elements which control the connection of the pump outlet with the inlet of the conveying pipe.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDmxmz INVENTOR ALBERT mum SUBMERSIBLE PUMP ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to electric motor-pump assemblages submersible in a container, which consist of a drive motor and a pump connected therewith and are provided with guide elements guided on guide rods which bring the pressure connection of the pump opposite to the inlet opening of the conveying pipe.

In one known form of embodiment of such a pump assemblage, which is intended especially for submersion in sewage containers, both the pressure connection of the pump and the inlet opening of the conveying pipe are provided with connection flanges extending at an acute angle to the vertical, which flanges place themselves against one another at the end of the submersion movement of the pump assemblage. In such a device a precise playfree guidance of the assemblage must be ensured if a reasonably secure seal is to be achieved between pressure connection and conveying pipe. In other forms of embodiment the pump assemblage engages with a hooklike abutment over the flange of the conveying pipe or over retaining devices arranged thereon, and then descends with its pressure connection flange against the flange of the conveying pipe, under the influence of its own weight. Thus the sealing effect is determined solely by the weight of the pump assemblage.

All the known proposals for solution of the above-mentioned kind have the purpose of achieving an automatic connection of the pump outlet with the inlet of the conveying pipe, when the pump assemblage has arrived in the lowered position. Obviously it is here desired to avoid special control elements on account of the increase of cost involved therewith, and it is then accepted that only a more or less secure seal is achieved between pump and conveying pipe.

These drawbacks and difficulties are to be eliminated by the invention and a submersible electric motor-pump assemblage is to be provided which without additional elements permits of achieving a controlled connection between pump and conveying pipe, namely due to the fact that the function of control in the production of the tight connection between pump and conveying pipe is allocated to the guide devices, as well as the task of guidance in the lowering of the pump assemblage. In this way a tight connection independent of the inherent weight can be achieved.

For this purpose, in a pump assemblage of the stated kind which is submersible in a container and consists of a pump connected with a drive motor, is guided with the aid of guide elements on guide devices in its lowering movement and is connectable in the lowered position with the inlet of a convey ing pipe, the invention provides that the guide devices, such as guide rails, serving for the guidance of the guide elements connected with the pump assemblage are movably arranged and in their movement act upon intermediate devices which control the connection of the pump outlet with the inlet of the conveying pipe. In this case, when guiderails are used as guide devices, these can be arranged for movement in the axial or substantially axial direction and caused to control locking elements which press the pump outlet against the inlet of the conveying pipe. Furthermore a stop which limits the descending movement of the pump assemblage should more expediently be provided, which stop again should be combined with deflecting elements which guide the pump outlet to the conveying pipe, in the approach to the lowered position.

In an especially simple form of embodiment the locking device can be formed due to the fact that the lower end of the guide rod or rods is articulatedly connected with the conveying pipe or a part connected therewith through connection pieces serving as guide links, which in the unlocked position extend at right angles or approximately at right angles to the guide rods. If then the guide rod is pressed for example downwards, the connection piece pivots the lower end of the guide rod towards the conveying pipe, so that the pressure connection flange of the pump is also pressed by means of the guide elements guided on the guide rod against the inlet opening of the conveying pipe and thus a locking of these parts in relation to one another is achieved. In place of a link connection of the lower end of the guide rod or rods it is possible to provide that the guide rod end is guided in oblique guides which on axial displacement of the guide rods into the locking position shift the guide rod end towards the conveying pipe. In place of oblique guides again naturally all other types of guides, such for example as arcuate guides and the like, can be provided which effect an approach of the guide rod end to the conveying pipe.

The invention permits of many possible kinds of embodiment. The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter by reference to a form of embodiment of a pump assemblage submersible in a container which is represented by way of example with the parts essential to understanding in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I shows the pump assemblage in the lowered position before locking;

FIG. 2 shows the locked position of the pump assemblage; and

FIG. 3 shows a section approximately along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the example of embodiment as illustrated in the drawing, the basis was adopted of a pump assemblage consisting of an electric motor 11 and a pump 12 directly adjoining this, which are suspended on a wire cable 13 and are lowerable into a container (not shown). A pipe elbow 15, which is adjoined by the upwardly leading conveying pipe I6, is secured in the container on a bottom plate 14. During the [lowering the pump assemblage l1, 12 is guided on guide tubes 17 which bring the flange 121 of the pressure connection 122 of the pump t2 opposite to the inlet opening 151 of the pipe elbow 15, by means of a guide sleeve 18 guided on the tubes and connected with the pump assemblage. In the last part of the lowering movement the pressure connection flange 121 is guided by a guide 181 in the form of an oblique slideway arranged on the bottom plate 14, as far as a stop 19.

The lower end of the guide rods I7 is connected by a bolt 20 with two connection links 21, 22 which in turn are articulated to two mounting blocks 23, 24 connected with the pipe elbow 15. By reason of such an arrangement, with an appropriate arrangement at their upper end, the guide rods 117 are movable in the axial direction and at the same time shift to a certain extent laterally towards the conveying pipe I6. Due to this lateral shift of the guide tubes the pressure connection flange 121 resting on the stop 19 is shifted by means of the guide sleeve 18 connected with it towards the inlet opening 1511 of the pipe elbow 15, until in the locking position it rests tightly against the inlet opening. Lifting of the guide rods 17 results in lifting away of the pressure connection flange III of the pump 12 from the inlet opening 151 of the pipe elbow 15. Thus one is able to effect a locking of the pump assemblage with the conveying pipe in the working position, without the aid of ad ditional control elements, and in a corresponding manner conversely the disengagement of the connection can again be effected.

What is claimed:

1. A submersible electric motor-pump assembly, having a drive motor and a pump connected therewith, which is lowerable into a body of fluid, comprising means for guiding having at least one guide element, said guide element guiding said assembly in its descending movement and is connectable in the lowered position with the inlet of a conveying pipe, at cooperatively associated with said guiding means, an intermediate element connecting said guiding means and said conveying pipe inlet, said guide element being a guide rail movable in substantially an axial direction, and said guide rail controlling said intermediate element which together force the pump outlet against the inlet of the conveying pipe by shifting the pump outlet laterally towards said pipe inlet.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, including a stop limiting the descending movement of the pump assembly, said stop being combined with deflecting elements which guide the pump outlet towards said conveying pipe, in the approach to the lowered position.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lower end or ends of the guide element is articulatedly connected with the conveying pipe or a part connected therewith by means of an intermediate element serving as a link, which in the unlocking position extend at right angles or approximately at right angles to the guide element.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the guide element is guided in oblique guides which on axial displacement of the guide element into the locking position shifts the guide element end towards the conveying pipe.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein arcuate guides are provided which on an axial displacement of the guide element effect an approach of the guide element end to the conveying pipe. 

1. A submersible electric motor-pump assembly, having a drive motor and a pump connected therewith, which is lowerable into a body of fluid, comprising means for guiding having at least one guide element, said guide element guiding said assembly in its descending movement and is connectable in the lowered position with the inlet of a conveying pipe, a cooperatively associated with said guiding means, an intermediate element connecting said guiding means and said conveying pipe inlet, said guide element being a guide rail movable in substantially an axial direction, and said guide rail controlling said intermediate element which together force the pump outlet against the inlet of the conveying pipe by shifting the pump outlet laterally towards said pipe inlet.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, including a stop limiting the descending movement of the pump assembly, said stop being combined with deflecting elements which guide the pump outlet towards said conveying pipe, in the approach to the lowered position.
 3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lower end or ends of the guide element is articulatedly connected with the conveying pipe or a part connected therewith by means of an intermediate element serving as a link, which in the unlocking position extend at right angles or approximately at right angles to the guide element.
 4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the guide element is guided in oblique guides which on axial displacement of the guide element into the locking position shifts the guide element end towards the conveying pipe.
 5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein arcuate guides are provided which on an axial displacement of the guide element effect an approach of the guide element end to the conveying pipe. 